The future of broccoli cultivation and marketing is developing through advances in machine harvesting, disease resistance, and new shapes and colours, according to Carl Scholten, Crop Co-ordinator at Rijk Zwaan. He discusses how Pb Defense could help growers manage clubroot and how new broccoli types are being developed. "By embracing developments together, we can take innovations further," he says.
Carl Scholten has just returned from Holambra in Brazil, where he and the broccoli team for the Americas, comprising breeders, market specialists and local experts, inspected new varieties in the trial field. "We're working on many innovations that can create market opportunities," says the Broccoli Crop Co-ordinator.
Not only fresh, but also frozen
The main countries for broccoli are North America, Spain, China, Mexico, Brazil and Italy. Broccoli is not only sold fresh nowadays. It's also increasingly available in the frozen category, either as individual florets or as an ingredient in mixed vegetables. "We expect growth in that area, because it fits with the convenience trend," Carl explains.
© Rijk Zwaan
One variety, two directions
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